Stink Bugs Invading Homes Before Winter

The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), an invasive insect from Asia, was first collected in the U.S. in Allentown, PA in 1998. Since then it has spread to more than 40 states.

The BMSB damages fruits and vegetables and costs farmers millions of dollars each year. They are also a nuisance for home owners in the fall, as they find their way into warm houses where they stay during the winter.

Unfortunately, the BMSB has no natural enemies in North America, but that may change. Scientists are proposing to import tiny wasps from Asia which lay eggs inside the stink bugs. However, the wasps must first undergo tests to ensure that they do not attack other insects besides the BMSB, and to make sure they do not become pests themselves, as the following video from USA Today explains: